Cougars earn pair of sweeps

Staff photos by Tom Kelly IV
Avon Grove's Caroline Keegan wins the 800m dash in front of Downingtown East's Anja Weiler, who had led till the final turn in lap two, during the track tri-meet Wednesday between Avon Grove, Downingtown East, and Downingtown West at Downingtown East in Uwchlan.

WEST GOSHEN -- When the coaches of the girls track and field teams from Downingtown West, Avon Grove and Downingtown East prepared for Wednesday’s double-dual showdown at East, they all scored out the meet based on probable results and possible permutations.

All three realized that their teams could win by five points or less, lose by five points or less or finish in a tie -- against either opponent. And, the stakes were high. Downingtown West and Avon Grove arrived tied for first in the Ches-Mont League’s National Division with 3-0 records, while Downingtown East entered the meet at 2-0.

When the final results were tabulated, host Downingtown East found itself in the driver’s seat for the division title. The Cougars squeaked by Avon Grove, 78-72, and posted a 93-57 win over Downingtown West. The “finishing in a tie” part of the possible results became a reality when Avon Grove and West tied at 75.

East will finish its regular season league schedule with a meet against West Chester Henderson and Bishop Shanahan on April 29 and needs just one point (three for a win; one for a tie) to clinch the title.

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The host Cougars also swept the boys meet with a 101-49 win over Downingtown West and a 111-38 victory over Avon Grove. West returned home with a split after knocking off Avon Grove, 91-54.

“I’m really proud of my team,” said East girls coach George Read. “I didn’t think that we were going to win. Avon Grove brought it today. We all knew it was going to be a really close meet.

“One difference was the 4x800. I thought we’d lose but we won. Amy Mohler dropped six seconds off her previous best. She ran a 2:25 and Kaela Barna was 2:26. Kate Koser went 2:29 and Amada Koser had a 2:23.”

Still, as the teams prepared for the 200-meter dash and with only four events not tallied, Read was expecting to come up two points shy of the total needed to win.

East’s Vanessa Ortiz changed his outlook when she finished second in the 200 -- behind West’s Megan Turner but ahead of Avon Grove’s first two finishers.

“Vanessa Ortiz really stepped up for us,” said Read. “She ran a great race for a freshman.”

Ortiz, who clocked a 27.87, said, “My coach told me to run with all my heart. I was running for our seniors because I’m close to a lot of them and this was our last home meet. Our coach said that every point mattered and that’s what I had in mind. I was focused on beating the Avon Grove girls.”

“The 300 hurdles was my better race,” said Swanepoel, who will run for West Chester University next year. “It was a p.r. (personal record) and was also a district qualifying time. I just decided to start faster. I did horribly over the hurdles so I had to make up for it sprinting between them. I also had a p.r. in the 100 hurdles.”

While East had solid strength and excellent depth, Avon Grove countered with a lot of strength up top, with first-place finishes in nine of the 15 individual events.

Both Keegans put on amazing kicks to win their races -- McKenna in the 400 when she clocked a 58.32 to edge West’s Megan Turner at 58.51 and Caroline in the 800, whose strong finish allowed her to place first at 2:19.62, ahead of East’s Weiler at 2:20.59.

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to catch her (Turner),” said McKenna Keegan, a freshman. “My teammates were lined up screaming for me and that gave me the extra push to go get her. With 100 meters to go, she was pretty far ahead of me. I just ran as fast as my legs would take me.”

Caroline Keegan, a junior, said, “Anja Weiler led for most of the race but I knew that I could run with her. I picked it up coming into the third 200. Then, with 150 left, I knew I was running out of time. I started believing in myself more. Deep down, I knew I could catch her. I passed her with 25 meters to go. It was my best kick ever.”

Downingtown West fared best in the relays with the team of Betsy Pierce, Sarah Wolverton, Megan Turner and Maura Ahern winning the 4x100 and the foursome of Jodi Wrzosek, Wolverton, Turner and Ahern crossing first in the 4x400.

Individual event winners for the Whippets were Pierce in the 100, Wolverton in high jump and Turner in the 200.